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Sunday, 29 January 2017

For one of my Christmas presents I was given the opportunity to attend a printing workshop with the wonderful artist Sue Brown at the yard:ARTspace (Cheltenham) and it proved to be one of the best Christmas presents that I have ever received. The day was spent being inspired and taught by this amazing lady ... please follow the link and check out her work it is beautiful. The aim was to create collagraph prints (aCollagraph print is one made from a plate collaged with different textures which is then inked and printed using a press). I was so engrossed in the day that all concerns and worries disappeared!Now I am no artist (my drawing skills are limited) but I love creating with shapes, texture and colour. I love messing around with paper and ink ... I thought I would share a couple of the prints that I created.For the first print I created two plates (using mount board and different types of self adhesive tape to create shapes and different tones of colour). One plate was inked in yellow and red and the other with blue - the first plate was printed and then the second plate was lined up and printed. This is the end result:

Very abstract!After lunch we created another plate, slightly larger, again just using different adhesive tapes to add texture for the ink to pick up. This time the idea was to explore adding additional colour by adhering tissue and thin paper to the printing process. This is the print that I finished with:

Another abstract!!I also attend a printmaking evening class ... which is all about printing without a press. I might share some of my other print in another post. Enjoy!

I can't believe that is Sunday afternoon already ... I had planned to do so much this weekend but my list remains intact!! I don't mind really as I spent time yesterday learning a printing technique at a whole day workshop and this morning managed to fit in breakfast with my daughter ... at least the list will still be there tomorrow. I did find time to create a card for a couple of challenges.

I began by creating a stencil for the balloons and then ink blended the line using distress inks. Then I die cut 'Happy' from the panel and also from some scrap card, stacked the letters before putting them back into the card. I have drew the balloon strings added the rest of the sentiment and considered the card done.I'm entering the following challenge:"Less is More" #313 - the theme this week is 'balloons'

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Good evening ... no words of wisdom from me this evening, just a card:

This card is a little unusual for me as I have used coloured card - normally I use white/cream as the background colour. This afternoon I had this idea to use the card for colour and to just stamp and heat emboss the image ... and now I can't decide if it was a good idea or not but I thought I would share it anyway!I used:UNIKO Originally Organic Clear StampsVersamarkWOW Gold Embossing PowderI am entering the following challenges:UNIKO Challenge #39

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Sometimes life can be very exciting and rewarding ... and the end of 2016 proved to be just that! You see it went like this ... Addicted to Stamps and More had a call for new design team members ... so I thought I would give it a go and put myself forward for consideration ... guess what happened next ... they invited me to join the team!! To say that I'm delighted and excited is somewhat of an understatement ... so you join me today for my first official post as a member of the design team hopefully to inspire you all to join in with the challenge.The new challenge today is:

This is my card to inspire you:

I began by stamping and heat embossing the crocus before water colouring with distress inks. I then die cut the images and adhered them onto the card base - one straight onto the card and the other two with foam tape to add dimension. I then stamped the sentiment and considered the card finished! A simple card created using few techniques.

I used:

Create A Smile - Crokisses stamp set

Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry and Twisted Citron

Simon Says Stamp - Handwritten Borders

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies

Versamark ink

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

WOW Gold Embossing Powder

I hope that you will pop along to Addicted to Stamps and More and join in with the challenge.

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Time flies when you are busy ... doesn't it! We are already in the middle of January and I don't feel as if I am getting as much crafty time as I would like ... and when I have the time my inspiration seems to be on a go slow!! I started this card yesterday and all I managed to do was to stamp, heat emboss and colour the flowers onto a piece of card ... then inspiration decided to have a rest! But I came home from work determined to finish it ... an idea popped into my tiny brain on the walk home from work (at least one of my New Year resolutions - to walk to work - is still happening!). This is what I came up with:

As you can see I have popped the kraft panel onto card that I have stamped and heat embossed with leaves on the opposite corners. Sorry the photographs are not brilliant - I haven't got around to the New Year resolution to improve my photography!! The inspiration for this card is the wonderful Darnell - if you don't know Darnell then please take this opportunity to pop along and see her blog. She creates inspiring cards and her blog posts will brighten your day! This month she is running a number of NBUS (never-been-used-stuff) challenges and the first one has the optional twist of using colouring pencils on Kraft card - that is exactly what I have done along with using a new stamp set. So when I've finished here I will be popping along to enter.I used:Hunkdory For the Love of Stamps - FloribundaClearly Besotted - Many MessagesSpectrum Noir - Essentials Pencil collectionWOW White Embossing PowderVersamark INk

Before I sign off for the evening I need to share some exciting news - one of my cards has been SHOWcased by the wonderful designers at "Less is More". Thank you, it gave me the boost that I needed. This is the card they liked:Enjoy!

Monday, 9 January 2017

A quick post this evening to share a card for this week's challenge at "Less is More". I've been visiting my parents this weekend so have had little time for crafting so I needed to do something creative when I got back this afternoon.

I began by inking up an acrylic block with distress inks which I then spritzed with water containing perfect pearls before placing it on to some water colour card. After the panel was dry I added the sentiment and flowers. The panel is adhered to the card base with some fun foam to add dimension.I used:Distress Inks - Squeezed lemonade, Mustard seed, Spiced marmalade and Carved PumpkinStampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini BouquetClearly Besotted Many MessagesVersafine Onyx BlackI'm going to enter the following challenges:"Less is More" #310 OmbrePenny Black and More - January - Anything GoesEnjoy!

Monday, 2 January 2017

It would seem that I am starting the New Year with a yellow and orange theme ... I guess it makes a change from the red of Christmas! I associate these colours with the start of the new day and Spring - at least they make me smile!Today I've created a card for a special person ... one of my Aunts celebrates her 80th birthday this month ... so a special card was required.

I began by stamping and heat embossing the flowers and then ink blended shades of yellow and orange across the panel. I then die cut the square with stitched square dies, creating a frame for the panel. I also die cut the numbers both from the panel and from some black card. The central panel is mounted onto some fun foam to add dimension and interest. I stacked the numbers before adhering them to the card.I used:Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Bouquet Stamp SetDienamics Stitched Square DiesDistress Inks - Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Ripe Persimmon and Spiced Marmalade.I am entering the following challenges:"Less is More" #309 DimensionPenny Black and More January Challenge - Anything GoesEnjoy!

Sunday, 1 January 2017

I'm not sure where the last two weeks of 2016 disappeared to but it seems a long time ago ... Happy New Year to you all ... I hope 2017 brings you much joy and happiness.Now the holiday is coming to a close life is quickly returning to normal ... washing and ironing, cooking and cleaning, need I go on?! Most important of all back to time for crafting. I'm determined to find 'me time' this year to do the things I love ... this is just one of my many New Year resolutions ... I'll let you know as the year progresses whether I manage to keep any of them!So to start the year here is my first card:

About Me

My name is Elaine and I am a part time crafter - unfortunately I cannot afford to be a full time crafter! I create with textiles, enjoy knitting, sewing, cross stitch and embroidery. I also enjoy paper crafts and try to make all my own cards.